Tailgate Assembly...anyone ever mess with one?

[badaz06]

My 84 pickup is having some serious issues with the tailgate, where the ends of the striker bolts aren't extending far enough out of catch the latch. I have to basically "snap" these by pushing them inwards and letting them pop out a few times in order to properly get them to catch when I shut the tailgate.

Has anyone ever worked on something like that? Am I in for a mess? Would it be worthwhile to buy a new latch and rods, or can the old one be cleaned and greased back into usefulness?

Jeff

[EbVette]

You need to clean an relubicate the bolt mechanisms. Sand and other crap during the winter time has a tendency to build up inside the tailgate bolt feeder area. This with the cold weather caused the latches to stick. Sometimes not always a shot of WD40 is enought to get you by...try a good dousing of gold ol WD, and I think you should be OK. If that does not work then the long rod from the center latch is sticket, This operated both side of the center latch turn which opens the gate, this could be slightly bend....Hope this helps

[Black396]

^^^ What Collin said. Most tailgates have an access panel on the tailgate on the opposite side of the handle. Remove the cover and WD40 the heck out of the mechanism. If it looks like the grease is old and full of dirt clean it up with a little brake cleaner (aerosol can type). Be careful because that stuff is not nice to paint.

Since the latches come all of the way out when you play with them, thats all you should really have to do.

[badaz06]

What I'm really scared of is taking this thing apart and not being able to get it back together. I'm not exactly the most nimble (How Joe Malo does it is beyond me). So just pop the screw off the back, and I "assume" the latch pulls out from the front? Any issues with the rods and lining everything back up? Or is this a "Just do it and deal" thing? It is supposed to be somewhat nice this weekend....(ugh)

[Black396]

You really shouldn't have to remove the latch itself. You should be able to clean it with it still in. That said, you can remove it, just scribe the bolts so that it goes back in the same place.

The only real difficulty would be if you dropped one of both of the rods and had to fish them out. I'ld give you a hand this weekend but we'll be at VIR if the snow melts. [:((]

Sarah took my Haynes manual for the p/u with her. They changed it a little for the 1999s and up. If you remove the latch tie a couple of strings onto the rods so if you drop them you can get them back. It really is a relatively easy job. Kinda tight though for big fingers [:(]

[Black396]

Oh, btw, each catch latch on the sides can also be removed for cleaning. Again, if you are going to remove them, be sure to scribe the bolt locations first. I'm not sure if the bolts are in slots so the can be adjusted or not but it's better to be safe than sorry.

If they are in slots like the hood or the doors, you can spend hours trying to align them if you don't scribe the bolt locations before removing them.

[badaz06]

Thanks Mike. Isn't anything simple anymore? :)

[Black396]

Isn't anything simple anymore? :)

Pickups quit being simple when they started putting p/s, a/c, p/b and a/t in them. I had a 1964 with a 3 speed manual and a 283 when I was 17. It had a heater and a radio. That was the easiest vehicle I ever worked on.

[cdn_eh]

Mike
That would be Three on Tree ????, I learned to drive on one of these, now I'am dating myself. Down to first, up to second, back to down to thrird, that would Mom and Dad's old car. That was the good old days. Cheap gas,200 miles on less $3.00

Zoel

[Black396]

That would be Three on Tree ????, I learned to drive on one of these, now I'am dating myself. Down to first, up to second, back to down to thrird, that would Mom and Dad's old car. That was the good old days. Cheap gas,200 miles on less $3.00

Zoel

You got it! My dad wouldn't let me learn unless I learned on a stick. I think it was a 41-42 Chevy Deluxe that we restored that I learned on. ...and yes that Three on the Tree was a real shifter. Talk about a LONG throw between gears[:D]